Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

An internally displaced Kurdish family in northern Iraq, 2016 (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
Turkish Military
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

TS188

Incident date

February 12, 2018

Location

بلبلة, Bulbul, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.770899, 36.818318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a private report to Airwars, the Kurdish Red Crescent named the following one civilian as wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Bulbul:

‘Bashar Youssef, 27, various shrapnel wounds and a head injury’.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Bulbul, Afrin (بلبلة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.770899, 36.818318. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • English
    • English

Incident Code

TS295

Incident date

October 9, 2019

Location

Mitkalta village, Tal Abyad, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.556229, 39.107500 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two or three civilians from the same family – a father, mother, and their child – died in an alleged Turkish strike on Matkalat village in the countryside of Tal Abyad area in the northern countryside of Al-Raqqah, according to local media.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “three people, a man, his wife, and their child,” died.

However, @NPA_SY put the death toll at two (the man and his wife), reporting that they died when a Turkish airstrike hit their house.

Hawar News named the three victims, but said that the child had survived the attack.

According to Hawar News, “The Turkish army attacked the village of Metlkalta with missiles. Rebia Masmaîl and Mihemed Hac Qadir were slaughtered and their 9-year-old son Rêzan Masmaîl was injured as a result of the missile hitting the vehicle they were in. Rêzan Îsmaîl, who has four brothers and a sister, is being treated at Minbic Hospital.”

The source added: “Nine-year-old Rêzan is unaware of the death of his parents. Enwer Umer, one of Rêzan’s relatives, said: ‘My children called me. They said that four missiles were thrown into the village by the occupying Turkish state. One of the missiles hit a vehicle carrying Rêzan and his family”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Adult female killed
Adult male killed
9 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Kurdish Red Crescent list of casualties caused by Turkish military attacks between 9 and 13 Oct 2019

  • Mrs. Rabeah Ismail and her husband Mohammad Hajj Qader Ismail. (via SN4HR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Mitkalta village, Tal Abyad, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.556229, 39.107500. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS330

Incident date

October 12, 2019

Location

رام حمدان‎, Ram Hamdan, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.027246, 36.712858 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said “a girl from Ram Hamdan town in Idlib countryside was killed after five failed attempts to cross to the Turkish border from the western side of Idlib”.

The Observatory said the victim was killed by “Turkish border guards’ bullets”.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ram Hamdan (رام حمدان‎), for which the generic coordinates are:  36.027246, 36.712858. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS331A

Incident date

October 12, 2019

Location

راس العين, Ras Al Ain, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.848579, 40.073576 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed and one other injured in an alleged Turkish forces airstrike and/or artillery on Ras Al Ayn – Hassaka governorate on October 12th, 2019 according to local sources.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fadel Bozan
Age unknown male killed
Mohmmad Abdul samad
22 years old male killed
Hanan Sheikh Ali
20 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ras Al Ain (رأس العين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.848579, 40.073576. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS341a

Incident date

October 14, 2019

Location

عين عيسى, Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.387430, 38.863020 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians including two women were reported killed in an alleged Turkish forces attack on Ain Issa in Raqqa governorate in Syria on October 14th, 2019 according to local sources.

No further details are available at the moment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 women2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ain Issa (عين عيسى), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.387430, 38.863020. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 women2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS375A

Incident date

October 29, 2019

Location

تل تمر, Tal Tamr, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.655309, 40.372388 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians (a child aged 10 and a woman aged 21) were reported injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Tamr in Hasaka governorate in Syria on October 29th, 2019 according to the Kurdish Red Crescent who identified the child as Khedir Muhammad al Zahir, and the woman as Wadha Salih Abdo.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khedir Muhammad al Zahir
10 years old male KRC injured
Wadha Salih Abdo
21 years old female KRC injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tal Tamr (تل تمر), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.655309, 40.372388. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS409

Incident date

February 15, 2020

Location

باشمرة, Bashamra, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.310556, 36.978611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and two children were injured in alleged Turkish air and/or artillery strikes on the village of Bashamra, Sherawa district, Aleppo governorate, on February 15th, 2020, according to local sources.

ANF English reported that Turkish forces launched an attack on the village, resulting into the injury of a woman named Sêvîn Nebu Qesab and her 8-year-old daughter Hemide Selih Hilal. The name of another injured child is unknown.

Hawar News Agency reported that “the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries are bombing the populated village of Bashamra in Sherawa district in Afrin, and it resulted in wounding a woman and two children”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult female injured
8 years old female daughter of Sêvîn Nebu Qesab injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Displaced women reportedly seeking shelter from alleged Turkish shelling on Bashamreh village, Aleppo governorate, on February 15th, 2020 (via @HesenHoseng).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a strike in the village of Bashamra (باشمرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.310556, 36.97861. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI037

Incident date

June 14, 2020

Location

Sinjar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.318611, 41.861111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were allegedly injured by a Turkish airstrikes on Sinjar.

ANF reported: “In Shengal, areas where civilian settlements and Serdeşt hospital are located, were bombed. According to the first information, there are some injured civilians. In addition, the people suffered material damages as a result of the bombing carried out by the Turkish state.”

Gilgo tweeted: “Injured civilians reported by Ezidi locals in Zerdeşt hospital near Şengal as a result of Turkish air raids. Airstrikes continue after a 40 minutes break. Difficult to get reports out due to intensity of bombardment.”

The New Arab published additional information on the strikes without mentioning civilian harm: “A military official said in the fourth regiment of the Iraqi army stationed in the vicinity of Sinjar that fighters targeted between the hours of twelve and a half and twelve and forty minutes, Sunday, locations and caves inside Mount Sinjar, indicating in a telephone conversation with the New Arab, that columns of smoke were seen rising from the place before To return the aircraftMinutes later to target other locations in the same area, and he heard the sounds of secondary explosions believed to be caused by a pile of weapons or ammunition.

He added, ‘The sites belong to most of the units,’ referring to the militia of Sinjar Protection Units, the local arm of the PKK in Iraq.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of Turkish airstrieks on Sinjar on June 14th, 2020 (via Heyva Sor a Kurdistane UK)
  • Aftermath of Turkish airstrieks on Sinjar on June 14th, 2020 (via Heyva Sor a Kurdistane UK)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sinjar, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.318611, 41.861111. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]